Tall Ships (band)
| Company type | Indie rock band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2009 |
| Headquarters | Brighton , England |
| Products | Music albums, EPs, singles |
Tall Ships was an English indie rock group established in 2009 during their time at Falmouth and later based out of Brighton, England. The ensemble consisted of lead vocalist and guitarist Ric Phethean, bassist and backing vocalist Matt Parker, drummer Jamie Bush, along with keyboardist James Elliot Field.
They produced two EPs and their first full-length album Everything Touching under the Big Scary Monster Records label before entering a three-year break. Their sophomore album, Impressions, was released in February 2017.
In September 2017, the band declared their split and held three farewell concerts across England in December.
Biography
While studying at Falmouth University, Phethean and Bush, both raised near Brighton, joined forces with Parker, who originated from Worcester.
Their debut self-titled EP was issued through Big Scary Monsters in early 2010, followed by the EP ‘There is Nothing But Chemistry Here’ later that year via Big Scary Monsters and Blood and Biscuits. Their first album Everything Touching was launched on 8 October 2012 through Blood and Biscuits/Big Scary Monsters. The band received significant airplay on BBC and headlined the BBC Introducing Stage at the Reading and Leeds Festivals in 2012. Producer James Elliot Field initially joined as a touring member before becoming a permanent addition. Although often classified under math rock, Phethean emphasized that their style leaned more towards indie and rock genres.
After their initial achievements, the group took a hiatus due to emotional strain, financial difficulties, and physical exhaustion. Parker mentioned the necessity to clear debts and prioritize mental well-being. During this period, Phethean held various jobs including bartender, construction worker, landscape gardener, grave digger, and even arranged flowers for a Vogue photoshoot.
Tall Ships made a comeback in May 2015 with the limited edition 7" single Will To Life released through Too Pure, signaling a transition from math rock towards a broader indie/alternative rock sound. In September 2016, they signed with FatCat Records and unveiled the single Meditations on Loss. They toured the UK supporting Lonely The Brave in October 2016.
Their second album Impressions arrived in March 2017 following delays with vinyl manufacturing. Parker described the record as a natural evolution toward simpler pop structures and standard 4/4 time signatures. The band conducted an extensive UK tour around this release.
On 26 September 2017, Tall Ships announced their dissolution and completed three final shows in Bristol, Leeds, and London during December. Earlier that year, Parker had disclosed intentions for a swift follow-up third album which ultimately did not come to fruition.
Band members
- Ric Phethean – vocals, guitar, keyboards, electronics
- Matt Parker – bass guitar, backing vocals, keyboards
- Jamie Bush – drums
- James Elliot Field – keyboards, electronics
Studio albums
- Everything Touching (Big Scary Monsters/Blood and Biscuits, 8 October 2012)
- Impressions (Fatcat Records, 10 February 2017)
EPs and singles
- Tall Ships – EP (Big Scary Monsters/Blood and Biscuits, February 2010)
- There is Nothing But Chemistry Here – EP (Big Scary Monsters/Blood and Biscuits, October 2010)
- "Plate Tectonics" (Big Scary Monsters/Blood and Biscuits, 2011)
- "Hit The Floor" (Big Scary Monsters/Blood and Biscuits, 2011)
- "Gallop" (Big Scary Monsters/Blood and Biscuits, 2012)
- "T=0" (Big Scary Monsters/Blood and Biscuits, 2012)
- "Will to Life" (Too Pure, 2015)
- "Meditations on Loss" (Fatcat Records, 2016)